Published on Apr 2, 2012 by djsashavaladi
Flamenco (Spanish pronunciation: [flaˈmeŋko]) is a genre of music, song and dance from Andalusia in southern Spain, noted for its energetic, staccato style. It grew from Andalusian music, song and dance styles, influenced by the song and dance of the local Romani people.[1][2][3]
The cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), dance (baile) and palmas (handclaps) are the principal facets of flamenco.
In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries; in Japan flamenco is so popular there are more academies there than in Spain.[4][5] On November 16, 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
There are questions not only about the origins of flamenco, but also about the origins of the word itself. There are many theories (summarized below), but no solid evidence for any of them. The word was not recorded until the late 18th century. The Spanish word Flamenco literally means flamingo. The dance does resemble the form of the elegant bird which is not only native to Southern Spain but can be found all along the migratory routes of the Romani people across moorish North Africa even to their origin in India. Since the dance style of Flamenco may well have originated in (or been strongly influenced by) the expressive Kathak dance of north-western India the term flamenco may have originally been a Spanish colloquialism to label the dance.
George Borrow asserted the word flemenc [sic] is synonymous with "gypsy".[citation needed] Blas Infante, in his book Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo, suggests the word may derive from Andalusian Arabic fellah mengu, "Escapee Peasant", referring to the Muslim Andalusians (Moriscos) who stayed in Spain and mixed with the Romani newcomers when the Spanish reclaimed their land.
Other hypotheses include "Fleming, native of Flanders" (Dutch Vlaming). Spain ruled Flanders for many years, and Charles I of Spain[disambiguation needed ] is said to have brought to Toledo an entire Flemish court.[citation needed] The Spanish wife of his father, Felipe de Austria, brought Andalusian musicians to Court and the Habsburg Spanish troops in their Netherlands domains were accompanied by musicians and, on their return to Spain, these became known to other Europeans, including the players of more sober traditional Andalusian music as 'Flamenco', the flemish style.
The entry for "Flamenco" in the 1786 Diccionario español e ingles (Volume 1), gives the following definition: "f.m. a bird that has a red breast and pinions". "Flama"[7] in Spanish means flame or fire, and "enco" or "endo", is a suffix which means a quality-of, or having a-similarity-to, or pertaining-to.[8] This association between a fiery-breasted bird and the deep, flaming passion expressed in Flamenco music, song and dance, is wholly appropriate
Flamenco music styles are called palos. Songs are classified into palos based on criteria such as basic rhythmic pattern, mode, chord progression, form of the stanza, and geographic origin. There are over 50 different palos flamenco, although some are rarely performed. For a complete explanation, see the main Wikipedia entry on Palo (flamenco).
There are traditions associated with each palo. Some of the forms are sung unaccompanied, while others usually have guitar or other accompaniment. Some forms are danced while others are not. Some are the reserve of men and others of women, while some may be performed by either. Many of these traditional distinctions are breaking down; for example, the Farruca is now commonly performed by women too.
Palos are traditionally classified into three groups. The most serious forms are known as cante jondo (or cante grande), while lighter, frivolous forms are called cante chico. Other considerations factor into classification, such as whether the palo is considered to be of gypsy origin or not. Forms which do not fit either category are classified as cante intermedio.
The cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), dance (baile) and palmas (handclaps) are the principal facets of flamenco.
In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries; in Japan flamenco is so popular there are more academies there than in Spain.[4][5] On November 16, 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
There are questions not only about the origins of flamenco, but also about the origins of the word itself. There are many theories (summarized below), but no solid evidence for any of them. The word was not recorded until the late 18th century. The Spanish word Flamenco literally means flamingo. The dance does resemble the form of the elegant bird which is not only native to Southern Spain but can be found all along the migratory routes of the Romani people across moorish North Africa even to their origin in India. Since the dance style of Flamenco may well have originated in (or been strongly influenced by) the expressive Kathak dance of north-western India the term flamenco may have originally been a Spanish colloquialism to label the dance.
George Borrow asserted the word flemenc [sic] is synonymous with "gypsy".[citation needed] Blas Infante, in his book Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo, suggests the word may derive from Andalusian Arabic fellah mengu, "Escapee Peasant", referring to the Muslim Andalusians (Moriscos) who stayed in Spain and mixed with the Romani newcomers when the Spanish reclaimed their land.
Other hypotheses include "Fleming, native of Flanders" (Dutch Vlaming). Spain ruled Flanders for many years, and Charles I of Spain[disambiguation needed ] is said to have brought to Toledo an entire Flemish court.[citation needed] The Spanish wife of his father, Felipe de Austria, brought Andalusian musicians to Court and the Habsburg Spanish troops in their Netherlands domains were accompanied by musicians and, on their return to Spain, these became known to other Europeans, including the players of more sober traditional Andalusian music as 'Flamenco', the flemish style.
The entry for "Flamenco" in the 1786 Diccionario español e ingles (Volume 1), gives the following definition: "f.m. a bird that has a red breast and pinions". "Flama"[7] in Spanish means flame or fire, and "enco" or "endo", is a suffix which means a quality-of, or having a-similarity-to, or pertaining-to.[8] This association between a fiery-breasted bird and the deep, flaming passion expressed in Flamenco music, song and dance, is wholly appropriate
Flamenco music styles are called palos. Songs are classified into palos based on criteria such as basic rhythmic pattern, mode, chord progression, form of the stanza, and geographic origin. There are over 50 different palos flamenco, although some are rarely performed. For a complete explanation, see the main Wikipedia entry on Palo (flamenco).
There are traditions associated with each palo. Some of the forms are sung unaccompanied, while others usually have guitar or other accompaniment. Some forms are danced while others are not. Some are the reserve of men and others of women, while some may be performed by either. Many of these traditional distinctions are breaking down; for example, the Farruca is now commonly performed by women too.
Palos are traditionally classified into three groups. The most serious forms are known as cante jondo (or cante grande), while lighter, frivolous forms are called cante chico. Other considerations factor into classification, such as whether the palo is considered to be of gypsy origin or not. Forms which do not fit either category are classified as cante intermedio.
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